Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Heights Happenings: October 10- October 17, 2012

If you missed Tuesday’s meeting, this is a 2nd opportunity to have your voice heard regarding this project. This very important project will have an impact on the Heights. It’s up to area residents to decide if that impact will be positive or negative!

Hosted at Aldine 9th Grade School, 10650 North Freeway, the meeting follows an “open house format” where you can come and go at your convenience. A short information video will repeat throughout the evening.

This is a very important meeting – TxDOT will be presenting their preliminary alternatives for I-45 that should include the consensus of the community (see below). It is important that residents let TxDOT know if we agree with their proposals. If we do not stay involved, TxDOT will do what they want to do instead of the community wants them to do. You will have until Friday, October 26 to submit your comments on this meeting. You are allowed as many comments as you wish.

TxDOT reported all 173 comments from the November 2011 meetings on their website (www.ih45northandmore.com). However, TxDOT did not organize or summarize the comments. Luckily our neighbors with The I-45 Coalition reviewed all comments from all sources – website, email, comments written at the Scoping meeting and mailed comments. The results are listed below – please be sure that the TxDOT ‘solutions’ presented at the meeting reflect these results!

Most people did not directly comment whether they were in favor or opposed the project.

Only 23% of the comments specifically mentioned that – of those, 95% opposed the project.

69% - Wants no increase in existing right-of-way

67% - Wants the project to have no negative effect on neighborhood quality of life

The Community Cloth is a “microenterprise initiative empowering refugee women in Houston.” Members of the organization create and sell handmade, indigenous arts and crafts such as woven bags, knitted scarves, embroidered linens, baby clothing, and more. Through producing and selling their own wares, the women have an opportunity to both express their culture and learn skills valuable for transitioning to life in the US, plus obtain much-needed supplemental income. All profits from sales go directly to the artisans.

Artisans from Community Cloth with be at One Green Street to tell their stories, show their craft, and sell their products- all on the way to a more positive life in their adopted home town, Houston!

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a young family on the way up, or a senior couple looking to downsize and simplify life, bungalow living in Norhill has something for everyone. The arts and crafts architectural style predominant in Norhill has undergone a rebirth of popularity, not only in Houston, but in historic communities from coast to coast.”

Many of the homes in my wonderful neighborhood have been lovingly upgraded with larger kitchens, luxurious bathrooms and extra closet space. Most importantly, many offer the trademark front porches so vital to the sense of community in The Heights.

The Norhill subdivision has green parks and esplanades and has been preserved with more than 90 years of deed restrictions. The end result is a well preserved collection of bungalows.

The Norhill Neighborhood Association invites you to visit six outstanding examples of bungalow living at its finest.

Bridgestone Tire’s “One Team, One Planet” spent tire program and Friends of Woodland Park are sponsoring an all day clean-up event at Woodland Park located, 212 Parkview. The Bridgestone "One Team, One Planet" program is designed to eventually assure that for every tire Bridgestone Americas sells in the United States, one spent tire (a tire that has been removed from use) will be used for a valuable purpose. For more information go to www.oneteamoneplanet.com.

Volunteers are asked topre-registeron-line and sign up for the morning shift (8 a.m. to noon), afternoon shift (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) or both! On-site registration for the morning shift will be from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and registration for the afternoon shift will be from noon to 1 p.m.

The deadline for on-line pre-registration is noon on Saturday, October 13th. Please make sure to register before that time.

Bridgestone is providing lunch, water, and refreshments for all pre-registered volunteers throughout the day. Goodie bags with T-shirts, bandanas and other gifts will be given to those who "team up to clean up". Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age to enter the water. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and will not be allowed to enter the water. Other specific safety information will be provided at the park before you begin your shift. All equipment will be provided.

The sale isn’t in the Heights but the artist is a Heights resident who happens to make amazing textiles. You don’t want to miss this sale on discontinued and seasonal items -- men's and women's apparel,

kitchen towels, napkins, table runners, totes, aprons, and much more. Support your Heights artists and get a jump on that Holiday shopping!

To celebrate the “season of patriotism,” aka election season, the ladies at the Houston Dairymaids are focusing on what brings all citizens together, regardless of political leanings: cheese! Set politics aside and unite around our favorite dairy treat.

We will be serving six delightful cheeses from a range of states across our great country along with samples of tasty beverages. Learn about the history of cheese in America, and vote for your favorite to become President of the United Cheeses of America.

Special guest Zoe Brickley, of Cellars at Jasper Hill, will be present to discuss her cheeses and answer any questions. Dairymaids is thrilled to snag her away from her busy schedule and solidify the cheese alliance between Texas and Vermont!

Not a member of the Heights micro-cinema and live music venue yet? Here is an additional reason to join:

Their 2nd birthday is being celebrated at a fabulous party hosted by Bill Baldwin and Joe Gonzalez in their amazing home located at 205 Bayland. The MEMBERS ONLY party is sponsored by Saint Arnold, who has generously donated lots of their delicious local brew. Jenni's Noodle House is the food sponsor and is providing all kinds of awesome appetizers! There will also be dessert, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. There will be a silent auction and classical guitarists.

14 Pews is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the diverse cultural needs of our community by providing a forum to experience, discuss and celebrate film, art & music, and to strengthen our community through education and fostering cross-cultural experiences.

The Helms PTA promises this year’s annual Fall Festival will be a Spooktacular time with a Haunted House, Mini-Golf Course, Moonwalks, Face Painting, Cupcake Walk, Sack Races, Dunking Booth, DJ, plus much more. There will be games & activities for everyone.

All funds raised will go towards supporting the efforts of the Helms PTA to provide enrichment activities for the students both in and out of the classrooms, as well as teacher grants, Writers in the School, Helms Wetlands Biodiversity Ecosystem, and Class Field Trips.

This year, Helms PTA is focusing on raising funds to begin a much needed renovation of our Spark Park playground and the surrounding school grounds.

Get your child a wristband early for $20 (presale starts October 15th) or for $25 at the gate on the day of the festival. A festival wristband allows the child to participate in all games and activities at the festival (excludes food, drinks, and photos).

Parents accompanying their children enter free. Food, drinks, and photos can be purchased separately at the festival.

Festival 11am – 3pm; Dance-A-Thon 10am -11am

Helms Spark Park, 22nd & Lawrence

For more information on purchasing a festival wristband or to donate to the Fall Festival, please contact James Inman at fallfestival2012@aol.com or 281-772-8862.

IN OTHER NEWS

As you may already know, we are losing 2 wonderful shops this month.

Write Now! gifts and stationary on White Oak will be gone by the end of the month. This weekend the shop will have 70% off remaining inventory. It is heartbreaking to see a local business close, especially one that was so enthusiastic about the community. I’ll really miss this little shop where I purchased untold birthday gifts, fun cards, and assorted fun items over the last two years. Wishing many good things to Shanna as she returns to teaching. While I am sad to lose her lovely store, a new class of kids will get a teacher who really cares about teaching and their futures.

Also shutting their doors is Heights Beatniks on 11th. This funky shop had a great collection of beautiful Argentinian tango shoes, along with a small but well thought out selection of vintage clothing and accessories. I wish Maria and Diana a lot of luck on their new adventures. I’m sure this won’t be last we hear of them!

In better news, Sparrow & The Nest is now open on Studewood, across from perennial favorite Hello, Lucky. The gray duplex with yellow spots houses at least 15 contributing artists whose talents include jewelry, greeting cards, soaps, origami, textiles, candles, and original works of art.

Head to the shop and welcome them to the neighborhood!

1020 Studewood, 713-869-6378

Photos courtesy of Sparrow & The Nest

Save the Date for Holiday on 19th

Friday Night's Festivities Include:

Live Music from Bossa II, Chaz Nadege, DJ Black Slacks, and Christmas Crooners in the "Laid Back Lounge"in front of Jubilee

Hosted by Plaza Moms Society, this event hosts over 30 local vendors to help get a head start on holiday shopping. Door prizes, unique gifts, jewelry, photography, toys and gifts for kids, home decor, specialty paper & stationery, and more!!

Bring your neighbors, friends, and family to support this annual event.

If you’ve been wanting a rain barrel (remember how bad you wanted one for last summer’s drought? Yeah.) come getcha one for $55 (a $120 value) and compost machines for $45 (a $100 value) on a first come, first served basis at the Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington AvenueParking is free.

Rain barrels are used to collect and contain groundwater from rooftops, which can be used for watering gardens and lawns. Rainwater conserves water, improves air quality and saves money.

Compost bins are used to store and assist the decomposition of various materials to be used to fertilize garden soil. Composting enriches soil, deters erosion and contaminated soil, prevents pollution and saves money.